Lava Man Is Big Winner at Pacific Classic in DelMar

Lava Man is the first horse to sweep Southern California’s “big three” grade I handicaps in the same year after winning Del Mar’s $1 million Pacific Classic by 2 1/2 lengths over Good Reward on Sunday.

The 5-year-old California-bred son of Slew City Slew added the Pacific Classic trophy to his victories in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup July 8 and the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap March 4.

Lava Man had won all six of his starts in 2006, including the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. IT) on the Hollywood Park turf June 10.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Lava Man was on or near the lead on the rail the whole way. He gave Preachinatthebar the slip in the far turn and powered away to open a three-length lead at the quarter-pole. He won while drifting in under strong urging from Nakatani.

With the $600,000 winner’s check, Lava Man pushed his career earnings to $3,504,706, the third most for a Cal-bred. He’s behind Tiznow ($6,427,830) and Best Pal ($5,668,245).

Giacomo, the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and third betting choice, was fifth, another two lengths back.

“He was pulling too hard on me,” jockey Mike Smith said. “Too hard right from the start. He usually drops it (the bit), but he wouldn’t let go today.”

Top This and That was four lengths back in sixth, and Magnum - beaten by Lava Man in the Santa Anita Handicap - was seventh, a half-length back after making a bid approaching the final turn. Preachinatthebar was last after leading through early fractions of :23 1/5 and :46 3/5.

Lava Man covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.62. He was third in last year’s Pacific Classic, when Borrego defeated Perfect Drift by a half-length with Lava Man a neck farther back.

2006 DelMar Race Meet, Del Mar Odds, DelMar Picks, DelMar Tips, Del Mar Results, Del Mar Futurity 2006

Can Giacomo Win the 2006 $1 Million pacific Classic?

2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and Preachinatthebar, the 1-2 finishers in Del Mar’s grade II San Diego Handicap, plus allowance winner Top This and That put in their final workouts Monday in preparation for Sunday’s grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic.

Across the country, Good Reward, a grass specialist for whom trainer Shug McGaughey is trying to establish main track form, finished his Pacific Classic preparations with a sharp five-furlong work on Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track in 1:01.43.

Giacomo posted a solid 1:12.20 six-furlong move under regular exercise rider Steve Willard. He was caught in 23.80 for the first quarter-mile, 48.20 for the half and 59.60 for five furlongs.

The nearly white Preachinatthebar sizzled six furlongs in a bullet 1:11 flat with Jon Court in the irons. The Bob Baffert trainee covered the first quarter in 23.80, the half in 47 flat, five furlongs in 58.40. A happy Baffert said, “He went nice and easy, just cruising around there. He has a nice, easy way of going.”

Trainer Dan Hendricks expressed enthusiasm for Top This and That’s half-mile work in :48 flat. “It was just what we wanted,” Hendricks said, adding, “He did it nice and even. Now we’ll enter up on Wednesday.” Regular exercise rider Luis Ortega was in the saddle for the drill.

Continue Reading Giacomo Eyes $1 Million Pacific Classic Victory at Delmar >>

2006 DelMar Race Meet, Del Mar Odds, DelMar Picks, DelMar Tips, Del Mar Results, Del Mar Futurity 2006

Ten Top Fillies Race for the 2006 Del Mar Oaks

Ten 3-year-old fillies, including three shippers and the 1-2-3 finishers in Del Mar’s grade II San Clemente Stakes, will head to the gate Saturday for the 50th running of the grade I, $400,000 Del Mar Oaks, the 1 1/8-mile race on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Coming in for the race from Toronto, Canada, is Arravale, who finished third to Wait a While and Asahi Rising in Hollywood Park’s grade I American Oaks on July 2. Also in that race finishing eighth was San Clemente winner Attima and San Clemente runner-up Sol Mi Fa, who was fifth in the Hollywood Park race.

Soothsay, third-place finisher in the San Clemente, is back to tackle the Oaks.

2006 Del Mar Oaks Race Entries, Post Position,and Jockeys:

1–Indy Miss, Jon Court
2–Charming N Lovable, Alex Solis
3–Sol Mi Fa, Norberto Arroyo, Jr.
4–Foxysox, Corey Nakatani
5–Arravale, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
5–Take the Ribbon, David Flores
7–May Night, Aaron Gryder
8–Meetmeinthewoods, Tyler Baze
9–Soothsay, Mike Smith
10–Attima, Victor Espinoza.
(AE)–Secret Scheme, Victor Espinoza

[Join the Dela Mark Oaks Trifecta Contest on Saturday, and the $1 Million Pacific Classic Trifecta on Sunday. Two exciting legs of our ongoing Summer Horse Racing Contest from All HorseRacing.]

2006 DelMar Race Meet, Del Mar Odds, DelMar Picks, DelMar Tips, Del Mar Results, Del Mar Futurity 2006